The House Construction
Age of Home
Construction- masonry, frame
Insulation
Attic: minimum 8-10” R40- Recommend cellulose- animals don’t like, better R value, attic floor, all opening sealed.
Walls: If old frame home either foam (big $) or cellulose can be blown into walls. Re-Siding? Add as much insulation to exterior as possible 1-3” R5 to R15
Basement: walls Insulated. Headers Top of basement walls?
Windows and doors- Single-pane single pane with storm. Recommend minimum Energy Star (Low E glass, Argon gas filled, warm edge spacer) Better- Fibre-glass or wood- triple-pane - get the best windows you can afford.
Ventilation- condensation on windows? Mould? Stuffy- Minimum Bathroom exhaust fan. If home is really air tight recommend an HRV (Heat Recovery ventilation)
Is the house very dry in the winter? - Are there lots of air leakage - weather stripping both window and doors, caulking and foaming- see Keeping the Heat In how and where to air seal your home.
Moisture - from the home being too air tight or water coming in from exterior.
Down pipes and eaves troughs- make sure water runs away from home
Resources
https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency/housing/home-improvements/15768
http://www.hydroone.com/MyHome/SaveEnergy/Pages/TipsTools.
https://saveonenergy.ca/Consumer.aspx
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/
http://greencommunitiescanada.org/
http://www.green-energy-efficient-homes.com/index.html
